Claiborne may get Monarchos

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Claiborne Farm has emerged as the leading contender to stand at stud Kentucky Derby winner , sources said on Friday.

Although there are still legal details to work out, the deal could be announced as early as Monday, according to sources in south Florida. Meanwhile, Monarchos remains in his stall at Gulfstream Park, where he was expected to be vaccinated for equine viral arteritis - a contagious viral infection - on Friday.

"His future plans are close to being finalized," a source said.

Monarchos, who ran the second-fastest winning time in Kentucky Derby history, was retired last Monday after tearing ligaments in his left front ankle while training at Gulfstream. Monarchos, a son of Maria's Mon out of Regal Band, by Dixieland Band, won four of 10 starts and banked $1,720,830.

Monarchos's owner, John Oxley, was not available for comment on Friday, but did say last Monday that he wanted to retain at least a 20 percent interest in Monarchos. "It'll probably be more like 40 or 50 percent," Oxley said at the time.

Monarchos would be a welcome addition to Claiborne, which recently suffered the deaths of two top stallions: Unbridled last year and Mr. Prospector in 1999. At Claiborne, Monarchos, who like Unbridled won the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, would join the likes of Seeking the Gold, Danzig, Conquistador Cielo, Coronado's Quest, and Pulpit.